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Telehealth Therapy Interventions I Have Been Using

In California, many are coming up on a year of telehealth/telepsych. I, personally, began telehealth on March 16, 2020. Currently, I am doing hybrid therapy (mostly telehealth, but I do see clients in person, with precaution, if there is a clinical reason).

I want to pause here just to note that I have been a therapist (during and post grad school) for longer in telehealth than I was a therapist in person. If anyone is curious, I was a therapist (intern) for 6.5 months in person, and an telehealth/hybrid therapist for 10.5 months since last March.

It looks like, at my agency, this telehealth thing will not be changing any time soon. So, I thought it would be great to reflect on the interventions I have found helpful.

Honestly, I can’t believe I have not already written this article. I guess I just assumed that there were already so many similar articles and master lists. Truly, I needed this list when the pandemic started, so I couldn’t have written it. Regardless, I hope you get at least one helpful idea from this article if you are looking for a new idea.

Disclaimer: This article contains external links, but I am not associated with the outside links and do not receive any benefit from providing these links.

Games and Rapport Building

Table Topics: I use Table Topics cards when rapport building: I just pull out cards and we take turns answering them. (Click here for link) Alternatively, one could just take turns asking any random questions.

BattleShip: I like playing Battleship with clients. (Click here for link) I just send the client the link that is generated (click play with friend), and send it to my client via Zoom chat.

Art For Kids Hub: This website has tons of different drawing tutorials for various age groups. (Click here for link).

Spot It Game: I also like playing Spot It via Zoom. (click here for link) My clients play with me because I hold the cards up to the camera. Sometimes, I make a game too within the game (ex. Name a coping skill after each point).

Two Truths and a Lie: Very straightforward… I play this game at the start of therapy with most clients.

Scavenger Hunt: I basically make this one up as I go, but I also prep before the session so I have things that are personal but not too personal. It’s pretty simple: Find something that makes you happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, proud, creative, etc... and discuss. You may be surprised how many stories the client may share.

Tic Tac Toe: Again, another very simple one. I think Google allows you to play (just google Tic Tac Toe), or you can share the Whiteboard in Zoom.

Hangman: Once again, another very simple one. You can share the Whiteboard in Zoom. 

Interventions

Any Talk Therapy with Play Doh: There are many different ways to use Play-Doh. If I work with a young child via Zoom, I might ask if they have Play-Doh or any clay-type toy. Then, I take my Play Doh and we either separately hold onto it while talking OR we make characters (ex. Snowmen) to talk through.

Mindfulness interventions: There are so many... Five Senses (5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste), Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Self-Hand Massage, Deep breathing, Meditations… etc. Click here to read: Self-Hand-Massage Relaxation Technique: My Personal Script

Music and Emotions: Ask your client to identify a song that makes them feel different feelings. Then, listen to it together and discuss.

Communication/Assertiveness Skills: Therapist Aid might be a good resource for finding worksheets. One could also google DBT communication skills.

Affirmations: Affirmations are pretty straightforward. I also like to guide my client’s in listing their accomplishments. I typically share the screen in zoom and make a list with word docs or google docs.

Timelines: Timelines can be helpful in exploring underlying issues. Again, I typically share my screen and make the timeline with Google Docs, Word docs, or the Zoom Whiteboard.

Genograms: Family genograms (maps of a family and patterns) can also be helpful in exploring underlying issues. Again, I typically share my screen and make the genogram with Google Docs, Word docs, or the Zoom Whiteboard.

CBT, DBT, and ACT: (Click here for the ACT book I read) There are so many skills in CBT, DBT, and ACT. I might teach some skills using worksheets from Therapist Aid or ones easily googled online. I am not certified in any of these interventions and do not endorse in any way claiming to be certified in these interventions if you are not.

Youtube Videos: Youtube can be used for so many different things. Maybe watch a fun video or song to engage a client in session, reward them for their engagement, or take a break.

Therapist Aid Worksheets: This site is great for finding easy-to-use worksheets for client sessions. (click here for link).

Other Psychoeducation and Worksheets Depending on Your Client Needs: This area is so broad that the best I can do is share an article I made consolidating many different sites that have resources such as worksheets, information sheets/articles, etc. Click here to read: Online Resources for Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals

Thanks For Reading!

Please let me know what kind of articles you’d like to see in the future!Check me out on Instagram @eagersocialworker for post updates!

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